Hi all, I'm attempting to write a location in the midwest US. It can be a major city in our time, but it is after an apocalyptic series of natural disasters. My story takes place about 100 years after the actual disasters, so a new society is born. I need a name for my city. It is split into two parts, "Central" and "the Outskirts." But I don't have a name for the collective city. Any name ideas or ideas on how to find a dystopian city name would be appreciated!! Thanks.
Do you want it to have a completely made up name or like something that's already a word like how you've named the sections "Central" and "The Outskirts"?
Hi Alyce! I don't mind if it is completely made up, as long as it doesn't sound too weird. Like it has to sound like it could come from a derivative of a word or town maybe? It's far into the future so it doesn't need to be too familiar, but nothing alien or fantasy since this isn't a story like that. Thanks!!
You could try using Latin or Greek words to get the sound you want. For example, 'urbs' and 'civitus' are both Latin words for 'city'. I guess it depends on what you want your city to represent, but I've found that using Greek and Latin words are a good way to find different names.
How about Zenstadra? It's totally made up, but it sounds cool.
You could try something ironically positively connoted like Haven or Eden. You could steal a name from classical literature or myth, (R'lyeh from Lovecraft's Cthullhu mythos, Lothlorien from Tolkein's elven paradise.) or maybe just a real place that has symbolic significance like Sparta or Rome. I'm not saying take the names completely if you don't want, maybe do a variation? Maybe think of a common slang name for the city that's used more among the lower class that contrasts to the actual name. Adding onto Barabara's suggestion Polis is the Greek suffix for city (necropolis, metropolis etc.) so maybe you could use that?
Latin is good to use for making up words, maybe you can translate the meaning of your city into another language?